Etihad Rail has finally revealed the first routes on its much-anticipated passenger network, and Dubai is right at the heart of it. The opening phase, set to launch in 2026, will connect Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah, creating a major rail corridor linking the UAE’s key commercial hubs with the east coast.

The initial rollout will focus on high-demand routes, starting with frequent services between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, followed by a direct connection to Fujairah. More routes and stations are expected to come online later in 2026 and beyond as demand grows.

For Dubai commuters, it’s all about saving on travel time. Journeys between Dubai and Abu Dhabi are expected to take around one hour, while trips from Abu Dhabi to Fujairah will take about 90 minutes. Trains will run at speeds of up to 200 km/h and carry up to 400 passengers, offering a fast alternative to increasingly congested highways.

The Abu Dhabi–Dubai route is expected to see the most frequent services. The Fujairah connection, meanwhile, is designed to boost tourism and improve access to the UAE’s east coast.

Station locations were chosen based on population density and connectivity.

The first passenger stations will be located in Mohamed bin Zayed City (Abu Dhabi), Jumeirah Golf Estates (Dubai), and Sakamkam near Al Hilal City (Fujairah), marking a major step toward a nationwide rail network that could reshape how people move across the UAE.

The UAE Ministry of Finance has launched a new digital system to centralise and manage data on all federally owned real estate, marking another step in the country’s push to modernise public asset management and strengthen governance.

The platform, known as the Federal Government Real Estate Assets Platform, will act as a unified electronic registry for federal government properties. It is designed to document, update and classify real estate data, while linking assets directly to financial and operational systems across the federal government.

The ministry said the launch fulfils the requirements of Article 18 of Federal Decree-Law No. 35 of 2023 on Union-Owned Properties, which mandates the creation of a federal electronic registry for government real estate.

Supporting digital transformation

Younis Haji AlKhoori, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Finance, said the platform is designed to strengthen regulation, governance and oversight of federal real estate assets, while supporting the UAE government’s wider digital transformation agenda.

By automating real estate-related processes, the system aims to improve data accuracy and provide better insights for policymaking, planning and long-term asset management.

Federal entities can use the platform to register and update property data under standardised classifications, manage leasable spaces, and submit real estate-related requests through automated workflows. These include inspections, transfers, sales, demolitions and structural changes to properties.

The platform also integrates with other federal systems to ensure records remain up to date, while generating reports and performance indicators to support evidence-based decision-making.

Linking real estate and financial data

Mariam Mohamed Al Amiri said the platform was developed to unify real estate data across federal bodies and connect it directly to financial and operational procedures, helping improve planning, expenditure control and transparency.

The system records both financial and non-financial data, including property values, depreciation, operating costs, location, condition and technical specifications. It also stores digital documents such as architectural drawings, site maps and contracts.

A new four-tier classification structure, covering sites, buildings, floors and individual units, standardises how government real estate is recorded and enables faster access to information.

From paper to digital

According to the ministry, the platform replaces paper-based procedures with a fully digital framework that supports real-time tracking, automated approvals and structured lease management, including contract creation, amendments and terminations.

Officials said the move will improve the efficiency of federal real estate use, enhance governance and support long-term planning of government-owned properties as part of the UAE’s broader digital government strategy.

The Middle East is on track to attract more than $100 billion (Dh370 billion) a year in major investments by 2026, spanning energy, renewables, healthcare, digital infrastructure and manufacturing, according to a new industry outlook by Grand View Research (GVR).

Despite the global shift towards cleaner energy, the region, led by the UAE and Saudi Arabia, is expected to remain a global powerhouse in oil and gas, while rapidly scaling renewable energy, digital transformation and healthcare innovation.

Oil and gas remain central, with a tech-driven twist

The UAE and its Gulf neighbours currently account for around 30 per cent of global oil production and 17–18 per cent of gas output, cementing the region’s role as a key energy supplier.

While global oil demand growth is expected to remain modest through 2026, gas demand is forecast to rise by around 3.5 per cent, driven by power generation, industrial expansion and LNG exports.

“The Middle East’s oil and gas sector remains a market anchor, but technology adoption and LNG expansion will define competitiveness over the next few years,” said Swayam Dash, Managing Director at Grand View Research.

Across the UAE, producers are increasingly deploying AI, IoT, drones and robotics to cut costs and improve operational efficiency, alongside investments in carbon capture, storage and early-stage hydrogen projects under the UAE Energy Strategy 2050.

Renewables and battery storage gain pace

Renewable energy is expanding rapidly across the Gulf, with falling solar auction prices making clean energy increasingly competitive. Both the UAE and Saudi Arabia are mandating battery storage alongside new solar and wind projects, helping stabilise power grids as renewable capacity grows.

Dubai has announced plans for multi-gigawatt renewable additions by 2030, while Saudi Arabia continues to roll out large-scale solar and hydrogen projects under Vision 2030.

Healthcare becomes an economic growth engine

Healthcare is also emerging as a strategic investment sector. In 2023, Dubai welcomed more than 690,000 medical tourists, generating over Dh1 billion in healthcare revenue and boosting related sectors such as hospitality and travel.

The UAE’s National Digital Health Strategy, which integrates platforms like Riayati, Malaffi and Nabidh, has consolidated more than 1.9 billion medical records across 3,000 facilities, positioning the country as a regional leader in digital healthcare.

Data centres, cloud and advanced manufacturing

Digital infrastructure is another major growth driver. The GCC data centre market is expected to grow at around 13 per cent annually through 2030, with the UAE and Saudi Arabia accounting for up to 70 per cent of new capacity.

Cloud adoption is accelerating too, with nearly 75 per cent of organisations expected to rely mainly on cloud platforms by 2026, boosting demand for cybersecurity, AI and enterprise digital tools.

By 2026, GVR expects the region’s economy to reflect balanced diversification, combining energy leadership with rapid growth in renewables, healthcare, digital systems and advanced manufacturing.

“The scale of investment shows how the Middle East is shifting from resource reliance to technology-enabled growth,” Dash said.